Kearny Scots

18 NEWS FROM HOME 19 FROM THE MEN’S LEAGUES proper citation of NJSA governing rules. its company team. Kearny became such a #us begun a downward spiral of the dis- soccer hub that in 1950 Sir Ma* Busby’s pute over e-mail and the inclusion of way Manchester United chose Kearny as a site Let’s too many people on the cc list that led to for an exhibition game against a team of a*ached members of Hump Street skipping locals. all legal citations and giving the NJSA board In the 1960s, Kearny had a population of Talk members an electronic “New Jersey hello,” over 21,000 Sco*ish immigrants. One of the a.k.a., “Go F*ck Yourself.” later families to move from Scotland was #e board members—mostly gentlemen that of a former teammate of mine, Gary About It of a certain age—did not take kindly to being Nimmo—or “Gazza.” He has a raspy voice the recipient of such profani% and promptly from years of cigare*es, booze and non-stop ruled that Hump Street be disqualified from trash talk. In recalling what made Kearny the State Cup and that certain of its players such a soccer hotbed, Gazza noted that he’d would be banned from organized soccer been coached by former Hibs player Jake W H A T I L E A R N E D W H E N for over three years. And each offending Bradley, who’d finish day job as an electri- I W E N T L O O K I N G player had to send a formal apology to the cian then coach the youth for Kearny Scots. F O R A N S W E R S A B O U T board and copy all of the other managers Later it would be Rob McCourt, current A N O T H E R T E A M ’ S in the league. head of Monmouth Universi% and Gerry SUSPENSION. I play for an Over-30 team called Kearny McKeown, founder of Players Development Scots. Most of our players are Brazilian or Academy and Nike iD2 scout, who would WHAT MAKES A MAN drive an hour and a half Peruvian or anything other than Sco*ish. continue the tradition of coaching subse- to Trenton on a weeknight for a meeting Our manager Anthony Portelli, half Italian quent generations of Kearny Scots players. that has no impact on his family or his job? and half Polish, but 100% Kearny with about In addition to this rich tradition of experi- Of course it relates to soccer—and the 10% of soccer still le- in his legs, was cop- enced volunteer coaches, Kearny had fierce recurring theme of those governing the ied on the correspondence. #e dilemma pick-up games—with each court having game not listening to the voice of fans and reminded us of when Kearny Scots was its own rules. Hoyt Street games were on players. In this case, our Willy Loman is the the defending state champs heading into an abandoned tennis court with a torn- manager of Hump Street FC, an over-30 the 2016 season and during the State Cup out net—pe,ed poles counted for a goal. men’s team based in Hoboken, who’s hoping NJSA forced us to take a forfeit because we At Washington School, the metal grates to overturn or at least lessen the decision by could not secure a home field. #e same over the windows and a couple feet off the the New Jersey Soccer Association board to administrator, Carlos Pais, abruptly made ground served as the goals, teaching the ban Hump Street for over three years from us take a forfeit and Sport Club, of all teams, players to hit laser on net. #e most com- the game of soccer. advanced to the next round. Sport Club won petitive games were at the Harrison Courts. #e dispute between Hump Street and ?????????????????????????? BY PHOTO the State Cup that year and it stung that we You only brought your A team because if NJSA stemmed from a quarterfinal State were not able to defend our title due to some you lost there was a wait of about 10 teams. Cup match between Hump Street and Sport disconnected administrator. A wager might even ride on the games, los- Club Portuguese based in Ironbound neigh- In the mid-1870s, several Sco*ish tex- ing team owing the winners Clinton Iced borhood of Newark. Hump Street won 2-0. tile, shipping, flooring and manufactur- Teas and subs at Stash’s on Kearny Ave. #e game was a heated match between two ing companies built mills along the Passaic You learned by trying your moves on your teams of different ethnic backgrounds: River in Kearny, attracting a huge labor friends. Your skills progressed by adapting one largely Italian, the other obviously force from the U.K. #e Clark #read Mill to the different games and playing against Portuguese. As the teams walked off, a Co. le- an indelible mark by planting the older guys you looked up to and trying to Sport Club player is rumored to have told Kearny. ”Soccer seed for Kearny’s nickname, Soccertown, stay on courts for as long as you could or a Hump Street player that “Carlos would Town, USA.” In 1950 USA, by importing soccer talent to play on before it got dark. Sir Matt Busby’s take care of this”—referring to Carlos Pais, Manchester United One of the oldest and most historic social NJSA Vice President of Game Operations, chose Kearny as a clubs in New Jersey is the Kearny Scots who also happens to be Portuguese. site for an exhibi- Club on Pa*erson Avenue. As you enter, a tion game against a Several weeks later, Hump Street learned team of locals. door warns: “Members Only.” Once inside, from NJSA that Sport Club had filed a pro- more o-en than not, you’re greeted by five test over a penal% awarded to Hump Street old men, three wearing Celtic jerseys, one and a red card issued to the offending Sport from each of the past three decades, who Club player, a violation of the new “double “More often than not immediately look up from their Magner’s jeopardy” rule recently passed by FIFA. cider ale. On a good afternoon after the Moreover, NJSA relayed to Hump Street you’re greeted by fve Kearny Scots has won or after conclud- that a replay would likely have to be played. ing a horseshoe tournament out back or Hump Street’s manager is a lawyer by day, old men, three wearing around any of the holidays, drinks line the so decided to pore over the NJSA bylaws. Celtic jerseys, one bar with casino chip markers backing your He found that for Sport Club to file a protest, PHOTOGRAPHS pint representing a round of drinks bought they must pay a fee to NJSA. He asked for B Y from each of the past by members with names like Wee Man J O E evidence that Sport Club had indeed paid MARTINEZ (he is small) or Genius (he is not a genius). the fee. When NJSA failed to respond, he three decades.” An immaculately maintained shuffleboard sent a long and well-considered appeal with spans the length of the wall opposite of the 20 NEWS FROM HOME 21 bar, beneath shelves displaying the club’s a*orney continually communicating with FROM THE NWSL deal, and everyone knew it. A-er the game, rich history: framed photos, scarves, signed the state associations. Varsallona stated that Portland forward and Canadian soccer leg- posters of pro teams and U.S. national teams, this dialogue is something new and proac- end Christine Sinclair said this year’s Final some containing past members, trophies. tive by the Cordeiro administration. I had A Season was about establishing a benchmark. Learning about Hump Street’s dispute wanted to rail against the national and state “I think that it’s a huge day for women’s and our being forced to take a forfeit indi- soccer hierarchy and show that if NJSA is soccer,” said Sinclair. “#is is hope1lly what cated to me a 1ndamental rupture with unjustly sidelining my teammates in our In the 1ture of the game will look like in this NJSA and its members, where arbitrary last years of old-man soccer glory, imag- country.” decisions are affecting players who have ine the abuse and corruption that exists given so much of their lives to the game and at the USSF level? In life, like soccer, you Review THE 2018 SEASON did offer a glimpse of what come from established and storied soccer come into a challenge with 1ll-on studs up the 1ture of women’s soccer in the U.S. areas like Kearny and Hoboken. NJSA is a ready to take out everything in your way, will be. For good or ill, it’s going to look non-profit and was created in 1913, the same but rash challenge a-er rash challenge, you a lot like the rest of professional sports in year as USSF. Many board members have get older and just want to slide with your this country. For the most part, that’s good. run NJSA for the past 30 years. Many are in buddies toward the sidelines celebrating 2 0 1 8 B R O U G H T M O R E Women’s soccer is entertaining.

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